Wiltshire: Bookings are now open for Wiltshire's Summer holiday FUEL programme

 

Full details, including eligibility criteria, can be found at https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/article/3833/FUEL-programme

Information provided by Colerne & Lyneham HIVEs

Winchester: Home-Start Family Groups

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Vale of Glamorgan: New - Little Pebbles Parent Support Group - For Parents & Carers of Under 5s with Additional Needs

Vale Family Information Service:

Little Pebbles Parent Support Group

Dear Parent/Carer

We’re delighted to introduce the Little Pebbles Parent Support Group, a new, friendly space from the Early Years Additional Learning Needs (ALN) Team. This is for parents and carers of young children with additional or emerging needs.

The group offers a relaxed, informal environment to meet other families, share experiences and build a supportive network, while children play. Parents and carers are also welcome to attend on their own if their child is in a setting or school.

You’ll have the chance to chat with members of the Early Years ALN Team, ask questions about your child’s early education, and access support in a welcoming setting—over a cuppa.
No diagnosis or referral needed – just drop in.

Details:  

St Helen’s Community Hub, Wyndham Street, Barry, CF63 4EL 

Fridays 10:00am – 11:30am

For more information text or call: 07596 889100

Information provided by Wales HIVE Hub

Dorset: Wool pre-school spaces available for Sep 2026

 

Information provided by Bovington HIVE

London: Home Start London

Home Start are there for parents when they need it the most because childhood can’t wait

All parents struggle at one time or another and Home-Start is ready to support London families through their toughest times.

Home-Start trains and supports volunteers to work alongside parents in their own home giving compassionate and confidential support, tailored to each family. Home-Start London is a consortium of 12 local Home-Starts operating across 24 London boroughs. 

Click HERE for more information.

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Kent County Council: Support for new parents who want to quit smoking

Are you a new parent who wants to quit smoking? 

The KCC Smokefree Team has launched a pilot to support parents with a baby under twelve-weeks old with:

- home visits from a specialist adviser

- access to prescription products to help you quit including a free e-cigarette starter kit.

Click HERE for more information

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Hampshire: Home Start support for military families

 

Home Start volunteers help families with children age 0-11 years deal with the challenges they face. They support parents (including military families) to learn to cope, improve their confidence and build better lives for their children.

Click on the QR code to access further information of other areas of support that Home Start can help with.

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Surrey: childcare provision and funding - Surrey Additional Needs and Disabilities

Childcare providers have a legal duty to offer extra support to meet the needs of a child with a disability under the Equality Act 2010. This might include installing a ramp to allow wheelchair access to their premises, or training staff to use special equipment. 

They will also be able to apply to Surrey County Council to access additional support and funding to help pay for extra staff, training or resources that have been identified as necessary to allow your child to attend their setting. More information is available on the Surrey website below.

Click HERE for more information. 

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Dorset: Local childcare and family services

 

Image: Dorset county council 

Do you need information on child-minders and childcare facilities in your area or have a child with SEND and need support or information? Click HERE

Information provided by Bovington HIVE

Gloucestershire: Get ready to book free activities for eligible children and young people during the School Summer holidays

 

Families can view activities available through Gloucestershire County Council’s summer Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF) as of midday on Monday 22 June. Bookings will be open from midday on Monday 6 July.

A wide range of free, fun activities and nutritious food will be on offer for eligible children and young people across the county to keep them happy, healthy and entertained from Wednesday 22 July to Tuesday 1 September for the summer school holidays.

Children in Reception to Year 11 who receive benefits-related free school meals can take part.

Please click here for more information

Information provided by Lyneham HIVE

MOD’s Families Hub is now in its second year – have you used it yet?

 

Planning to register and claim for the UK Nursery Authority (UKNA) from September? Living in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland? Volunteers needed for the user testing

Planning to register and claim for the UK Nursery Authority (UKNA) from September? The childcare team are asking for volunteers to take part in user testing and provide feedback on some of the products required to register and claim the UKNA reimbursement.

If you haven’t heard about UKNA, read the announcement from March 2026:

Transformative new childcare support will save Defence families up to £6000 a year - GOV.UK

Criteria for taking part in the testing:

• Service personnel (SP) must be Regular or FTRS (FC)
• SP with children aged 9 months to 2 years old living in Scotland or Wales, and SP with children aged 9 months to 4 years old living in Northern Ireland.
• SP that are currently paying for childcare at a registered childcare provider.
• SP that use a Tax-Free Childcare account to pay their provider.
• SP that have sufficient time available to test the product and provide feedback to the team.

User testing will take place between now and September.

If you fit the criteria and would like to take part in the user testing, please contact the Defence childcare team at people-affs-child-expenses@mod.gov.uk

Little Troopers Family Reconnection Weekend July 2026

Family Reconnection Weekend – July 2026
Applications are now open!
We’re heading to Cuffley Activity Centre in Hertfordshire for a woodland weekend full of activities, connection and time together as a military family. Families will also have the chance to connect with others from the military community who truly understand military life.
Register your interest now, open to families with children in Year 4 and above.
We can’t wait to welcome lots of you to our second Family Reconnection Weekend of 2026!
Applications https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XH8RVPF...

Bicester: tower treasures baby and toddler group - every Thursday during termtime

Baby and toddler drop-in group ages 0-4. Play, enjoy refreshments, stories, songs and a chat! The Parish Room, St Michael at the North Gate, termtime Thursdays 1000-1145hrs. 

Click HERE for more information.

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub.

Hampshire: Home Start Hampshire in Rushmoor & Hart

At Home-Start Hampshire we run a range of family groups which are by referral only, third party or self-referral. The groups are supported by trained and experienced volunteers who will ensure you and your little one(s) are welcomed, feel safe and have a positive experience.

All of our groups provide a safe non-judgmental environment where families can make the first steps to regular social interaction and peer support.

To refer a family to one of our groups, or make a self-referral please complete and return a referral form, which can be found HERE

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Hampshire: Hampshire County Council Childcare Choices

 

Changes to childcare support mean you might now be eligible for more help than ever before. Support from Childcare Choices can give your child a great start while giving you work choices, helping you make the juggle of family life a little easier. 

Click HERE for more information.

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Church Crookham: Army Welfare Service Give Us a Hand

 

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

St Athan: Swallow Playgroup based at MOD St Athan West Camp Community Centre - spaces available

 

Information provided by Wales HIVE Hub.

Transformative new childcare support could save Armed Forces families up to £6,000 a year

(images UK MOD Crown Copyright 2024)

A new Ministry of Defence scheme to transform support for Armed Forces families with young children will be rolled out across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from September 2026, the Defence Secretary has announced on 20 March 2026.

This major boost could save eligible Armed Forces families up to £6,000 per year for each child, depending on where you are in the UK.

Defence is committed to supporting Armed Forces families, wherever you live and work. This scheme will help with the cost of living and navigating life as a family in the Armed Forces, recognising the demands placed on Service personnel and the critical roles families play in support of them.

Hundreds of families in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are expected to be eligible for the scheme.

Defence Secretary, John Healey MP, said:

"Our Armed Forces families are at the heart of our nation's security. With demands on defence rising, from the conflict in the Middle East to growing Russian aggression, we are asking more of our military, and it is right that we continue to step up our support for them.

“This transformative offer will ensure more military families get the childcare support they need, no matter where they are posted.

"We are making good on our promise to Armed Forces families - supporting them as they support our dedicated military personnel defending the UK and our allies. Our message to the Armed Forces community is clear: this government is on your side."

Defence Secretary meets Service families

(images UK MOD Crown Copyright 2024)

(images UK MOD Crown Copyright 2024)

On 19 March 2026, the Defence Secretary visited Dreghorn Barracks in Edinburgh to launch this new scheme and meet families who will benefit from this extra support.

About the scheme
Who is eligible for the scheme?

Defence UK Nursery Authority (UKNA) – launches Sept 2026

Click poster to enlarge.
To access any document links, please view the document online here.

Further information will follow in due course, but please contact HIVE with any queries in the meantime.